Upwardly acting door structure

ABSTRACT

1,217,928. Up-and-over door structure. OVERHEAD DOOR CORP. 9 Dec., 1968 [21 Dec., 1967], No. 58324/68. Headings E2F and E1J. An up-and-over door is made of horizontal panels, each mounted on a frame whereby they are hinged together. The frame of the lower of the two members has a rail 23A formed with a horizontal wall 24A. A flange 29A extending downwardly from the wall has an upper, preferably arced, portion 33A and a lower flat portion 34A which is attached to the rear flange 36A of the end of the panel. A support flange 37A extends inwardly from the lower edge of the arced portion and has a hollow semi-cylindrical portion 38A at its end. The frame of the upper of the two members has a rail 22 with a horizontal wall 42. A flange 52 extends downwards from this wall and has attached to it a flange 56 which extends backwards and preferably carries a cylindrical portion 57 on its end which is disposed within the hollow cylindrical part of the other member. Flange 56 has a ridge 59. A channel shaped bearing member 63 of selflubricating material is disposed between the two hinge members, fitting between the two cylindrical portions. The front edge 65 of this bearing member is preferably curved to engage, with the curved flange 33A.

July 29, 1969 P. E. PEMBERTQN ET AL 3,457,983

UPWARDLY ACTING DOOR STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 21, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l July29, 1969 P. E. PEMBERTON ET AL UPWARDLY ACTING DOOR STRUCTURE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 21, 1967 INVENTORS United States Patent3,457,983 UPWARDLY ACTING DOOR STRUCTURE Paul E. Pemberton, Irving, andSheldon D. Loose and Anthony E. Greene, Dallas, Tex., assignors toOverhead Door Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Indiana FiledDec. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 692,574 Int. Cl. E06b 9/08; E05d .l5/24, 1.7/04

U.S. Cl. 160--235 5 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A door structurehaving a plurality of horizontally hinged sections which are guidedbetween positions in a substantially vertical plane and positions in asubstantially horizontal plane by spaced track means. Each pair ofadjacent door -sections is connected by a pair of separable hingeelements which extend substantially the full width of the door. Thehinge axis is spaced inwardly from the inner surface of the door and thehinge elements are separated from each other by a self-lubricatingbearing member.

Background of the invention This invention relates in general to anupwardly acting door structure having a plurality of horizontally hingeddoor sections and, more particularly, to the hinge mechanism andassociated rail structure of the door sections.

While the performance and construction of upwardly acting doors havinghorizontally hinged sections have been well known and highly developedover a considerable period of time, certain problems have definedsatisfactory solutions. Specifically, the hinge structures between thesections of the dors have either been too costly when capable of smoothand maintenance-free operation. or they have been loose, noisy and/ornot weathertight, particularly where economy has been an importantfactor. Moreover, existing hinge structures have in general beencomprised of independent members which must be mounted upon doorsections thereby increasing the cost of manufacturing such doors.

Another problem, also associated with the hinge mechanism of multiplesection doors, results from the desirability of providing frame membersfor the door sections which are easily adapted for doors of widelyvarying width, particularly where the material used as panels in thedoor sections is incapable of adding substantially to the strength ofthe overall door section. That is, where relatively lightweightmaterials, such as fiberglass, are used for the panels of the doorsections, the frame structure surrounding the panels must be ofsufficient strength to meet almost all of the load requirements imposedupon the door section during the normal operation of the door. On theother hand, it is not economically feasible to provide a different typeof rail member for each variation in door width.

It is also important that the rail and/or hinge structures of thevarious sections should be made completely weatherproof not onlyl torender the door more satisfactory for its intended purposes, but alsobecause rain and snow, for example, can damage a door and/ or obstructits operation if it can get into the hinge mechanism or between theassociated rails when the temperature is near or below the freezinglevel.

It is well known that existing hinge structures on upwardly acting doorsbecome loose, noisy and lose some of their Weather sealing effectivenessafter substantial periods of normal operation. With present doorstructures this problem cannot be overcome without changing the entirehinge mechanism and such a change is not only a major repair problem,but it may not be economically feasible. Thus, as a practical matter,the owner of such a door either accepts the problem or replaces theentire door at a considerable cost.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is the provision of anupwardly acting door construction having horizontally hinged doorsections wherein the hinge elements extend along and are integral withthe adjacent frame members or rails of the door sections, wherein thehinge elements are separated from direct engagement by means of aself-lubricating bearing member which can be readily replaced at arelatively small cost.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a hingestructure, as aforesaid, which is quiet operating, tight fitting,completely protected from the weather when the door is in either theclosed or opened position and which is capable of adaptation to doorsections of widely varying widths and lengths, even where the door framemust provide most, if not all, of the strength for the door section.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will become apparent topersons familiar with upwardly acting door constructions, in particular,and door structures in general upon reading the following descriptivematerial and examining the accompanying drawings, in which:

`FIGURE 1 is a fragment of an upwardly acting door structure in theclosed position as seen from the inside of the door.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-I-I in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a broken, sectional view taken along the line III-III inFIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragment of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a broken, sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIGURE4.

For convenience in description, the terms upper, lower, front, rear andwords of similar import will have reference to the door constructionembodying the invention as appearing in FIGURE 2, the rear side of thedoor being rightwardly therein. The terms inner, outer and derivativesthereof will have reference to the geometric center of the door sectionsand parts associated therewith.

Summary of the invention The objects and purposes of the invention,including those set forth above, have been met by providing an upwardlyacting door construction having a plurality of similar, horizontallyhinged door sections, each of which has a rigid frame. The adjacentframe or rail members of each pair of adjoining sections are providedwith interconnected hinge elements which preferably extend the fulllength of the door section and are arranged so that they are virtuallyweatherproof. The hinge element connected to the one door sectioncomprises a substantially channelshaped member having a pair of opposedconcave surfaces interconnected by a planar rearwardly extending portionwhich is substantially horizontal when the door sections are in thevertical, closed position. The other hinge element connected to theadjacent door section is substantitally L-shaped and has a first portionfixedly connected to the door sections, and a second substantiallyplanar portion integrally connected to the free end of the rst portion.The planar portion of the second hinge element is adapted to bepositioned between the opposed concave surfaces in substantial parallelrelationship with the planar portion of the first hinge element when thedoor is in the vertical closed position. The hinge elements are spacedfrom each other by a substantially channel-shaped self-lubricatingbearing member which can be readily and inexpensively replaced. Eachdoor section has 3 at least two roller holders by means of which it isguided along a pair of spaced rails from a substantially vertical closedposition to a substantially horizontal open position.

Detailed description The upwardly acting door structure 10, onepreferred embodiment of which is shown in FIGURE l, is comprised of aplurality of similar, horizontally hinged sections 11, 11A, 11B and 11C.Corresponding parts of the sections 11A, 11B and 11C will be identifiedby the same numerals as their counterparts in section 11 withappropriate suflixes A, B or C. Section 11, for example, has arectangular metallic frame 12 supporting a corrugated fiberglass panel13 which may be reinforced by a center brace 16. Said frame 12 has apair of end Stiles 14 and 15, a lower rail 2.2 and an upper rail 23A.The section 11 is hingedly connected to the adjoining section 11A by ahinge assembly 17 which comprises part of the lower rail 22 of section11 and the upper rail 23A of section 11A. Said rails 22 and 23A extendapproximately the full width of the door 10. A pair of roller holdingbrackets 18 is secured to each section of the door structure 10, asfurther illustrated in the copending aplication, Ser. No. 659,922,whereby the door is movably supported upon spaced and parallel trackmeans 19.

The upper rail 23A (FIGURE 4) of section 11A has a horizontal wall 24Afrom which a pair of parallel front flanges 27A and 28A extenddownwardly. These flanges are spaced to permit the snug reception of theupper edge of panel 13A therebetween. Front flange 27A is spacedinwardly from the edge of horizontal wall 24A such that the flange 31Aof end stile 14A may overlap flange 27A and provide a flush surface withthe front edge of horizontal wall 24A.

A rear flange 29A, which extends downwardly from wall 24A, includes anupper, arcuate portion 33A and a lower flat portion 34A, whichis-attached to the rear flange 36A of end stile 14A.

A support flange 37A extends inwardly and slightly upwardly from thelower edge of the arcuate portion 33A which is concave on its rear side.The flange 37A has a semicylindrical portion 38A at its rearward endwhich is coaxial with the arcuate portion 33A and opens frontwardly. Thehorizontal wall 24A- also has a short, upwardly extending ridge 39A forpurposes hereinafter described.

The lower rail 22 on section 11 has a horizontal wall 42 and a pair ofparallel, upwardly extending front flanges 43 and 44 which are spaced topermit the snug insertion of the lower edge of panel 13 therebetween.Flange 43 is spaced inwardly from the front edge of wall 42 in order topermit an overlapping engagement with flange 31 of end stile 14. Wall 42has a downwardly extending ridge 51 which overlaps ridge 39A when door10 is closed, thereby blocking the entry of rain or snow between rails22 and 23A. Lower rail 22 also has an upwardly extending rear flange 48,which is attached to flange 36 of end stile 14.

A support flange 52 extends downwardly and slightly frontwardly fromwall 42. A hinge flange 56 is integral with and projects rearwardly andslightly upwardly from the lower edge of flange 52. Thus, the flange 56and wall 42 converge rearwardly, slightly. Flange 56 has a cylindricalportion 57 along its rearward edge which is disposed within thesemicylindrical portion 38A. The front side of flange 52 has a ridge 59near the flange 56.

A portion of the horizontal wall 42 extends rearwardly of the supportflange 52 and has a downwardly extending flange 67.which providesadditional horizontal reinforcement for the berglass panel 13. Ifneeded, further reinforcement can be provided, as by attaching an angle68 to wall 42 by bolts 69. The frame elements 14, 15, 22 and 23 may beformed from metal, such as aluminum or steel, by a rolling or extrusionprocess.

A channel-shaped bearing member 63, which is preferably fabricated froma selflubricating material, such as a plastic, is disposed between rails22 and 23A so that it extends along the lower surface of flange 56 andgrips both the cylindrical edge portion 57 and the ridge 59, whereby itis held in position and in snug pivotal engagement within the rolledportion 38A of support flange 37A. The front side of the bearing member63 has a curved portion 65 which snugly and slideably engages theconcave surface of portion 33A. Rail stops 60 (FIGURE 3) are secured bybolts 61 to the opposite ends of flange 29A and have parallel end plates62 which substantially cover the ends of the hinge 17.

The lower rail 71 on section 11C (FIGURE 2) is somewhat similar to lowerrail 22, without the support flange 52 and associated parts of the hingeassembly 17. Rail 71 has grip means 75 for attaching a resilient seal 72which extends downwardly therefrom.

The upper rail 73 on section 11 (FIGURE 3) is somewhat similar to upperrail 23A without the hinge flange 56A and associated parts of the hingeassembly 17. The upper rail 73 has a downwardly extending flange 74,which is secured by bolts 76 to rear flange 36 of end stile 14, and arearwardly extending brace flange 77.

Operation Although the operation of the structure embodying theinvention will be apparent to skilled persons from the foregoingdescription, a summary thereof will now be set forth.

The door 10 is opened by lifting same upwardly and thereby causing therollers in the brackets 18 to move along the track 19. As the section11, for example, passes around the bend in track 19, said section pivotson hinge 17 relative to the adjacent section 11A. The hinging actionbetween lower rail 22 and the adjacent upper rail 23A is produced bypivoting of cylindrical portion 57 of support flange 52 together withcylindrical portion 64 of self-lubricating bearing member 63 within thesemicylindrical portion 38A of the support flange 37A. At the same timethe front curved portions 65 of member 63 slides along the arcuateportions 33A of the flange 29A.

During normal operation of the door 10, contact between the front curvedportion 65 of member 63 and the arcuate portion 33A preventsdisplacement of cylindrical portions 57 and 64 from within thesemicylindrical portion 38A. However, lower rail 22 can be disengagedfrom upper rail 23A, as to replace the bearing member 63, by pivotingsaid rail 22 relative to rail 23A until the portion 65 moves upwardlypast arcuate portion 33A, after which the cylindrical portions 57 and 64can be moved frontwardly out of contact with the semicylindrical portion38A. To reassemble hinge 17, the cylindrical portions 57 and 64 areinserted into the semicylindrical portion 38A and the portion 65 ismoved into sliding engagement with arcuate portion 33A.

Disengagement of the hinge flange 56 and attached bearing member 63 frombetween the portions 37A and 38A can also be accomplished by endwise,relative movement thereof. However, at least one rail stop 60 must beremoved to effect such endwise disengagement.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has beendisclosed above for illustrative purposes, it will be understood thatvariations or modifications thereof which come within the scope of theappended claims, are fully contemplated.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Structure for hingedly connecting a pair of adjacent sections of ahorizontally hinged, upwardly acting door, comprising:

an elongated, substantially horizontal first frame member on one of saiddoor sections adjacent the other door section;

an elongated, substantially horizontal second frame member secured tothe other door section adjacent the first frame member;

an elongated first hinge element projecting away from said first framemember, said first hinge element having a first portion fixedly securedalong one edge thereof to said first frame element and a second portionintegrally connected to the other edge of said first portion, said rstportion having a support surface and said second portion having aconcave arcuate surface contiguous with said support surface;

an elongated second hinge element projecting away from second framemember, said second hinge element having a first part lixedly securedalong one edge thereof to said second frame member and having a secondpart integrally connected to the other edge of said first part, saidsecond part having a bearing surface adapted for movement toward andaway from a position adjacent to and opposite said support surface whenthe door is in a substantially planar position; and

elongated, self-lubricating bearing means disposed between the first andsecond hinge elements for effecting relative pivotal movement and a sealtherebetween, said bearing means having a base portion and an arcuateportion integral with the base portion along one edge thereof, saidarcuate portion being in snug engagement with said concave surface andsaid base portion being connected to one of said support surface andsaid bearing surface, said base portion being engaged between saidsupport surface and said bearing surface when the door is in said planarposition to form a seal between the first and second hinge elements.

2. A hinge structure according to claim 1, wherein said support surfaceand said bearing surface are planar and parallel when said door is insaid planar position.

3. A hinge structure according to claim 1, wherein the second part ofsaid second hinge element is substantially planar and has part of acylindrical surface formed on the free edge thereof, said cylindricalsurface being snugly received within the arcuate portion of said bearingmember.

4. Structure for hingedly connecting a pair of adjacent sections of ahorizontally hinged, upwardly acting door, comprising:

an elongated, substantially horizontal first frame member on one of saiddoor sections adjacent the other door section, said first frame memberhaving a first concave surface extending lengthwise thereof on one sideof said one door section;

an elongated, substantially horizontal second frame member secured tothe other door section adjacent the first frame member;

an elongated first hinge element rigidly secured to and extendinglengthwise of said first frame member and projecting away from said oneside of said one door section, said first hinge element having a firstportion fixedly connected along one edge thereof to said first framemember adjacent the edge of said first concave surface remote from saidsecond frame member, said first hinge element having a second portionintegral with the other edge of said first portion and having a secondconcave surface facing said first concave surface and spaced therefrom,said first portion having a planar support surface extending betweensaid first and second concave surfaces, said planar support surfacebeing substantially perpendicular to said door when it is in a verticalclosed position;

an elongated second hinge element rigidly secured to and projecting awayfrom said second frame member, said second hinge element extendinglengthwise of said second frame member and having a substantiallyL-shaped cross section, said second hinge element having a first partfixedly connected along one edge thereof to said second frame member andhaving a second part integral with the other edge of said first part,said second part being positioned between said first and second concavesurfaces and having a planar bearing surface thereon movable toward andaway from a position adjacent said sup- ,port surface when the door isin the vertical closed position; and

channel-shaped, self-lubricating bearing means disposed between thefirst and second hinge elements for effecting relative pivotal movementand a seal therebetween, said bearing means having a substantiallyplanar base portion and integral, arcuate first and second edge flanges,the first edge fiange being disposed between the first part of thesecond hinge member and the first concave surface of the first hingemember, the second edge flange being disposed in snug engagement withthe second concave surface, and the planar base portion being engagedbetween the bearing surface and the support surface for creating a sealtherebetween when the door is in the closed vertical position.

5. A hinge structure according to claim 4, wherein the channel-shapedbearing means is constructed of a plastic material, and wherein thesecond part of the second hinge member has part of a cylindrical surfaceon the free edge thereof and snugly received Within the second edgeflange of the bearing means, the first part of said second hinge memberhaving a shoulder formed thereon and engaged by said first edge flangeof said bearing means, whereby said bearing means is removably securedto said second hinge member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,039,447 5/1936 Pixley 160-2352,257,513 9/ 1941 Pilcher 160-235 2,525,309 10/1950 Norberg 160-209 X2,968,829 1/ 1961 Meddick.

3,015,839 l/1962 Eskridge et al 16-136 3,067,814 12/ 1962 Anthony160-235 FOREIGN PATENTS 411,304 11/ 1966 Switzerland.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 16--136; 160-209

